Are You Sporting A “Recession” Haircut?

We’ve jokingly talked before about why women cut their hair, but here’s a historical example we didn’t really consider: war and its economic impact. The U.K.’s Telegraph recently reprinted a 1939 article dealing with trends in women’s hairstyles.

Back then, we learn, ladies were switching to short styles out of practicality and thrift: “Women who had cultivated romantic coiffures for which they had grown their hair 12 inches, are having seven of those inches cut off. Hairdressing is returning instead of hair-building.”

So, how have our thoughts about going short in times of economic crisis changed since the ’40s?
The cut detailed by the Telegraph, which would “reduce their visits to the hairdresser,” certainly seems manageable for months at a time (the original recessionistas!). Yet, do modern styles lend themselves to money-saving? It would seem to us that cropped cuts these days certainly seem more high maintenance (we’re looking at you Miss Katie I-Cut-My-Hair-Every-Three-Days Holmes).

One thing’s for sure, getting your locks chopped is no longer such a big whoop, because apparently back in 1939, this was the deal: “Hairdressers have wanted this change for months, but it has taken a war to persuade women to cut their hair.”

What about you? Have you altered your hairdo or haircut schedule in reaction to the recession? [Telegraph.co.uk]